Double-decker jeepney

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Inquirer article posted by jpdm in Skycrapercity forums:

Double the fun in air-con double-decker jeep with videoke, ref
By Niña P. Calleja
Sunday, September 7th, 2014

Talk about taking things to a higher level.

Who can resist riding a sleek double-decker jeepney—air-conditioned and with videoke aboard to boot?

Such jeepneys may soon be a usual sight in the streets of Manila as the first of their kind was launched at the three-day Philippine Travel Mart, a travel trade exposition at SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia, which began on Friday.

Known as the Philippines’ cultural icon, the jeepney was given a facelift by Jeepney Company Inc., a firm that has been taking tourists around Metro Manila aboard air-conditioned jeepneys since 2005.

The 40-seater, two-deck jeepney has been drawing the attention of prospective travelers at the Philippine Travel Mart organized by the Philippine Tour Operators’ Association.

Even Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., who graced the travel event on Friday, had his photos taken inside the jeepney.

The interior of the double-decker jeep can be likened to any spacious coaster, except that it has a refrigerator, two televisions, microphones and speakers for anyone raring for a videoke showdown.

Painted yellow and showing the Department of Tourism’s slogan, “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” on the front, its exterior has the trademark of the Filipino jeepney’s amusing design.

But unlike the usual “King of the Road,” the double-decker has enough vertical space so that passengers need not bend to get aboard or off. The double-decker has two doors on both sides and two stairs to the second deck.

“We are capitalizing on our cultural icon,” said Clang Garcia, managing director of Jeepney Company, one of the 245 exhibitors at the Philippine Travel Mart that closes today.

The aim of the double-decker jeepney was to serve a bigger market after the success of its jeepney expeditions to favorite tourist spots in Metro Manila, such as Intramuros and other parts of Old Manila, she said.

“It was difficult at first while we were starting. They thought I was going crazy. But our aim was to bring back the pride in our jeepneys,” she said.

“People look down on them. We want to change that,” she said.

The jeepneys in the Philippines have earned the reputation of being the Kings of the Road, as they are known to hustle through the busy roads of Metro Manila and even overtake other vehicles to reach their destinations.

The double-decker bus was designed by industrial designer Mark Bautista, who also designed the buses plying Bonifacio Global City.

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Nag-hire ng industrial designer pero naging over-styled ang sakayan.